The rants, raves, reviews, news, and express written opinion of a writer celebrating his life long love affair with music that rocks!!!

Monday, October 2, 2017

Can We Please Get The Gaslight Anthem Back Together?

I’ve been on a Gaslight Anthem kick recently. You know,
the rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey?
While I’ve been focusing on their last two records Get Hurt, and Handwritten,
I have listened to their entire catalog multiple times. It not only reignited
my passion for the band and reminded me how fantastic they are, but it also led
me down a trip where I was listening to lead singer Brian Fallon’s other band,
The Horrible Crowes. Their cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” is truly
amazing. Yes, I did just say that.

Brian Fallon’s ability with the written word is just
uncanny. He is as intense a lyricist as exists in rock music and he is also one
of the finest in his field.

Here are some key examples:

All my friends want to get in to Heaven

And all I keep thinking is I wish you were here

I heard that they’ve been calling me The Great Depression

Rollin’ and tumblin’ breaking my own heart again

…
From “Rollin’ And Tumblin’”

I’ve been fumbling with your heart strings

And that’s good enough for me

And If I rained on one of your hours

Then I know I must be working

Try it on for size my darling

See what a man you can make of me

I will eventually haunt you

You will eventually be my queen

…
From “Biloxi Parish”

You remind Anna, if she asks why

That a thief stole my heart while she was making up her
mind

I heard she lives in Brooklyn with the cool

Goes crazy over that New York scene on 7th
Avenue

But I used to wait at the diner, a million nights without
her,

Praying she won’t cancel again tonight

And the waiter served my coffee with a consolation sigh

You remind Anna, if she asks why

…
From “Here’s Looking At You Kid”

It is rare to find an artist that can write with such
intensity and passion. I like to think it’s because he’s from Jersey like yours
truly, but it is more likely that he was really blessed with the gift. And as
great as solo Brian Fallon is (Painkillers
is an exceptional record) it’s just not the same. The entire band needs to
get back together.

The Gaslight Anthem went on their hiatus after recording
and touring for the greatest album they had made to date. They went out on a
high note, and they left their fans craving more. I was fortunate enough tosee them live once on their Get Hurttour and I was left mesmerized. Their live show is as superb as their albums. And
then, shortly thereafter, the band announced their hiatus.

They were riding the wave to the top and then abruptly
decided to halt their progress. Little information is available as to why The
Gaslight Anthem went on hiatus. Brian Fallon has stated that “it was getting
crazy” before they halted and that everyone was “relieved a little bit.” So,
there may have been some undocumented turmoil going on within the band that
caused the stop.

But with Fallon hard at work on his second solo album and
amid a European tour, I don’t see The Gaslight Anthem getting back together
anytime soon. There may be a better chance of getting Brain Fallon’s side gig
The Horrible Crowes back together before The Gaslight Anthem reunites. And
that’s sad.

The Gaslight Anthem is an exceptional band and it takes all four members to
create the music they made. It’s not just Brian Fallon. It’s Fallon with Alex
Rosamilia, Alex Levine, and Benny Horowitz. All of them together are
responsible for the sound and the style of The Gaslight Anthem. And while
Fallon may be the principle songwriter and lyricist in the group, I think it’s the
influence of his bandmates that makes their songs so amazing. It’s the
collective unit that produces a better creation. Again, Brian Fallon solo is
great stuff, it’s just not The Gaslight Anthem.

Hiatus is a tricky word. A lot of bands have taken a hiatus
and were never heard from again. Other bands have taken a hiatus and came back
completely different with other members. I don’t think that would be the case
here, as Fallon has stated he would never record under the name The Gaslight
Anthem without all four original members. But I do think that hiatus is another
word for finished. As much as I want to have them back, hear a new record, and
see them on tour, I don’t think that it’s going to happen. It saddens me to
state this, but I think we have seen the last of The Gaslight Anthem.

Perhaps I’m wrong. Maybe the time off has been good to
the band members and someday soon they will realize how much they miss each
other and get the urge to record music together. It’s possible, but doubtful. There
are too many documented instances of bands going on hiatus to never return. And
after almost three years apart it gets easier and easier to just continue to
drift away. The Gaslight Anthem are an incredible force and now at the prime of
their careers, they’ve turned away from each other to take some time off. It’s
hard to find a particular level of success once, getting it a second time is
near impossible.

So, while I may never get to hear any new music from the
band, I will always have their five-album catalog, and it will always be in my
regular rotation. And that will have to be enough for me. I’m just thankful
that there was a Gaslight Anthem at all. Spectacular music is getting harder
and harder to come by, but The Gaslight Anthem filled that void for a little
while.